ALARMS OVER WIDE AREA

Southland Times, Issue 24162, 26 June 1940, Page 5

ALARMS OVER WIDE AREA

WAVES OF NAZI AEROPLANES WARNINGS SOUNDED IN LONDON BRITISH FIGHTERS IN ACTION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 25, 7.50 p.m.) LONDON, June 25. The most widespread air raid alarms since the declaration of war were sounded in England. Bomhs, some of them incendiary, are reported to have been dropped in several sections. Waves of German aeroplanes were reported in all sections, including London, for the first time since September.

Warnings were sounded in London after bombs had been dropped in the south-east and south-west of England. Several bombs were dropped shortly after midnight in the south-west of England. Antiaircraft guns fired on the raiders. Two aeroplanes were seen in Wales, but no bombs were dropped. No aerial or anti-aircraft activity developed in London.

An official communique that enemy aeroplanes made attacks over a widespread area of England in the hours of darkness. Air raid warnings were sounded in many districts, including the region of London. A number of bombs was dropped in the eastern counties and the Midlands, most of which fell in open country and caused no serious damage. Bombs also fell in a town in south-west England, where three civilians were killed. Six were injured elsewhere. No damage was reported from the London area. DROPPING OF BOMBS Bombs are reported to have dropped in the north-east of England. Explosions were also heard in the south-east of England. Three waves of enemy aeroplanes passed over one area, proceeding inland. British fighters were most active. In some cases several hours elapsed before the “all clear” signal was given. The authorities have taken steps to prepare the civil population in advance against the demoralization which the enemy may be

hoping to spread by use of what is called “whistling” or “screaming” bombs. As this bomb falls a contrivance of organ pipes attached to it emits an unearthly scream, which even hardened campaigners admit to finding frightening on first acquaintance. The bomb is, of course, no more dangerous or destructive than any other and if the public is duly prepared it is not likely to have much effect. Should these bombs be employed over Britain they will be dropped also by the Royal Air Force over Germany.

BRITISH RAIDS OVER GERMANY MARKED MORAL EFFECT ON PEOPLE LONDON, June 24. There is good reason to believe, from information received in London, that the British raids over Germany are having a very marked moral effect. In the great industrial areas of Western Germany there have been severe losses in production and many night shifts have had to be cancelled. It is now clear that great devastation has been caused in explosives factories, oil refineries and marshalling yards. A point of considerable interest is that the reports show that the Germans who have experienced these raids are all the more astonished and alarmed because it had been drilled into them that British bombers would never be allowed to operate over Germany. Of course, the Nazis allow no news of the raids to be published in the unraided areas of Germany, but, unfortunately for the success of this policy, the rumours which result from it have proved to have an even worse effect on morale than would the publication of authentic news. ' '

In this connection it is very significant that the Germans have begun to operate night fighter patrols over Germany. The present experience does not suggest that they will represent a very serious interference with the activities of the Royal Air Force over Germany, but they involve a useful diversion of German strength. The Air Ministry has announced: “Yesterday a daylight attack was made by our bombers on railway junctions and aerodromes in Holland and Germany. Three of our aircraft are missing. Last night attacks were continued on military objectives in Germany. These included munitions factories, marshalling yards, and railway junctions in Mecklenberg, the Ruhr and the Rhineland. Heavy damage was done. Our aircraft returned safely.” It is learned from Berlin that 5,000,000 inhabitants in the city and suburbs on Friday night rushed to air-raid shelters. Bombs dropped near Badelsberg and hit one official building and several houses. Numerous fires were started. A hospital was damaged by splinters, but nobody was injured.

ANTIWAR CAMPAIGN IN SOUTH AFRICA

JOHANNESBURG, June 24. General J. B. M. Hertzog, the former Prime Minister, and Dr D. F. Malan, the Republican leader, have issued a joint statement demanding the immediate summoning of the South African Parliament and inviting supporters to hold meetings to protest against the declaration of war against Italy without consulting Parliament and to demand the immediate withdrawal of the Union from the war.

General Hertzog has embarked on an intensive anti-war campaign.

NETHERLANDS TO BE NAZIFIED

LONDON, June 24. The German-controlled Dutch radio declared that the Dutch Nazi Party has planned the complete nazification of Holland. The Dutch Nazi leader, M. Anton Mussert,,stated that the programme must be free from Jewish and Walloon influence.